Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

Family Law Committee Update

The Family Law Committee of the Chicago Council of Lawyers and Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice have been participating in a project to improve the process of enforcing spousal maintenance (formerly known as alimony) orders in Illinois. The Illinois State Disbursement Unit (“SDU”) collects and dis...

Letter to the Daily Law Bulletin–Domestic Relations

Last week, the Daily Law Bulletin ran a letter from our Staff Attorney and Program Manager, Elizabeth Monkus, describing the launch of a new court-based assistance program from pro se litigants in the consolidation Domestic Relations Division at the Daley Center....

Clean Slate Subcommittee for Child Support

Chicago Appleseed is proud to participate in the Clean Slate Subcommittee for the Child Support Advisory Committee to HFS and the courts in Illinois. Clean Slate is a program intended to help parents with child support debt clear the money owed to the state and end their cycle of debt. The subcommit...

Annual Luncheon 2018

Thanks to everyone who attended our annual luncheon! This year, we honored Retired State Representative Elaine Nekritz for her work on the recently enacted Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act which will reduce the imposition of court fines and fees on those least able to afford them. This histori...

Voters Do Not Retain Cook County Judge

For the first time in nearly 30 years, Cook County voters have voted against the retention of a sitting Circuit Court judge. Judge Matthew Coghlan, who sat in the Criminal Courts, received less than the 60% “yes” vote necessary to retain his seat. The Illinois Supreme Court will appoint a replacemen...